Israel Launches Gaza Aid Distribution Amid Intensified Offensive

Amid an escalating military campaign in Gaza, Israel has begun distributing humanitarian aid under a new US-backed mechanism designed to bypass Hamas and ensure supplies reach civilians. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), operating with Israeli cooperation, started deliveries on Monday, aiming to provide food assistance to over one million Palestinians by the end of the week.

The initiative marks a significant shift in how aid is managed in the war-torn enclave. GHF’s strategy involves direct distribution through a small number of secured sites in southern Gaza, manned by private American security contractors. The foundation says the system is designed to prevent Hamas from seizing or manipulating humanitarian aid, a frequent accusation by Israeli authorities.

Despite criticism from international aid groups and the abrupt resignation of GHF CEO Jake Wood who claimed the program could not operate while fully maintaining humanitarian neutrality the foundation has committed to continuing its mission. “We will not be deterred,” GHF stated, announcing its plan to expand aid access rapidly in the coming weeks.

The rollout coincides with the IDF’s intensified campaign dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots,” targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad strongholds across Gaza. Over the past two days, the Israel Air Force has conducted more than 200 airstrikes on strategic targets including tunnel shafts, weapons depots, and terror command centers.

In northern Gaza, the IDF confirmed a precision strike on a building used by Hamas’s elite Nukhba force. In Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood, key terrorists embedded in a former school-turned-command center were also eliminated. The IDF emphasized it had taken “many steps” to avoid civilian harm, including using surveillance and intelligence to select targets and deploying precision-guided munitions.

Despite these efforts, the Hamas-controlled health ministry reported over 40 deaths from recent strikes. Israeli forces maintain that Hamas continues to embed military infrastructure within civilian zones, a tactic that exacerbates the toll on non-combatants.

The military has also confirmed the deployment of five divisions, representing tens of thousands of troops, across the Gaza Strip. The aim is to occupy 75 percent of the territory within two months, increase pressure on Hamas, and secure the release of the remaining 58 hostages many believed to be deceased held since the October 7 massacre.

Monday also saw renewed rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel. One of the three launched projectiles was intercepted before crossing the border, while the other two fell short inside Gaza. No casualties were reported, and warning sirens were not triggered.

This week marks 600 days since the brutal Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel, in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were murdered and 251 abducted. As Israel balances humanitarian efforts with a determined military offensive, it continues to send a resolute message: it will do what is necessary to defeat terror while striving to protect innocent lives.

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